Mail-pouch fastener.



A. T. DOYLE.

MAIL POUCH FASTENER- APPLICATION FILED AUG. 27. 1912.

Patented Jan. 28, 1913.

witnesses ALBERT 'l. DOYLE, OF UNION, OREGON.

MAIL-POUCH FASTENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 28,1913.

Application filed August 27, 1912. Serial No. 717,331.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT T. DOYLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Union, in the county of Union and State of Oregon, have invented new and useful Improvements in Mail- Pouch Fasteners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to mail pouches and more particularly to fastening devices therefor.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a device of this character by which the flap may be simply locked in closed po sition without the use of straps and strap staples such as are now commonly used.

A further object of the invention is to provide a flap closure consisting essentially of a plurality of turn buttons adapted to be locked in operative position across the slots in the flap by the operation of one of said buttons, and a further object consists in operating one of the buttons and holding the same in operated position by the lock hasp.

Further objects of this invention will appear as the following specific description is read in connection with the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of this application, and in which Figure 1 is a detail elevation of the bag showing the flap in closed position. Fig. 2. is a similar view showing the flap in open position. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view. Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of the bag plate showing the operating members thereon.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, 1 represents an ordinary mail sack pro vided with a closing flap 2, in this instance provided on the inside thereof with a plate 3 having a plurality of longitudinally extending slots 4 and a transversely extending slot 5 in its center. This plate 3 is held in position on the flap by means of rivets 6 which extend through the plate and flap and through reinforcing plates 7 similarly slotted. The outer face of the flap has secured thereto a plate 8 having a transverse slot therein to register with the transverse slot 5 in the plate 3, and journaled in the plate 8 is a block 9 having a slot 10 formed therein for a purpose to be hereinafter described. The block 9 has hinged thereto a slotted hasp 11 which is adapted to pass over a staple 12 secured upon a reinforcing plate 13 depending from the bag plate 14 which is riveted to the face of the bag adjacent the mouth of the same, as shown. Pivoted upon the rear face of the plate 14 are a plurality of rock levers 15 which carry turn buttons 16 projected through the plate 14 and adapted to engage in the slots 4 and 5. These rock levers are all connected by hinged rods 17 or leather straps so that when the intermediate button is operated, as will be hereinafter described. all of the buttons will be turned to aline with the slots or to extend transversely across the same for locking the flap in closed position. When it is desired to close the flap and lock the same in closed position, the intermediate button is turned to a position transversely of the plate 14 which makes all of the remaining buttons lie longitudinally of the plate. The hasp 11 is then turned with the block 9 so that the slot in the block will register with and be adapted to receive the intermediate button. After all of the buttons have passed through the slots in the plate 3 and the reinforcing plates 7, the hasp is turned to the position shown in Fig. 1 and engaged over the staple 12. The lock may be placed through the staple, as shown in Fig. 1, thus preventing lifting of the same and also rotation of the block 9 in which the intermediate button is held. As this button controls the position of the remaining buttons through the hinged connecting rods, the sack will be held in locked position until the hasp has been given a quarter turn in the proper direction so as to aline all the buttons with Ere slots and thereby permit raising of the What is claimed is:

1. A fastening device for mail pouches comprising a plurality of connected turn buttons, a slotted plate carried by the flap of the pouch to receive said buttons, :1 hasp rotatably and pivotally connected on the flap, said hasp adapted to operate all of the buttons simultaneously and a staple for holding the hasp against movement, said staple adapted to receive the lock.

2. A mail pouch fastener comprising a mounting plate carried by the bag, a plurality of lovers pivoted on the plate, flexible connecting members engaged with opposite ends of the rock levers, turn buttons connected to said rock levers, a slotted plate carried by the flap of the pouch, a slotted block journalcd in said plate. and a hasp pivoted to the block and adapted to rotate the same in the plate for turning all of the buttons simultaneously.

3. A mail pouch fastener comprising a mounting plate carried by the bag, a plurality of levers pivoted on the plate, flexible connecting members engaged With opposite ends of the rock levers, turn buttons conneeted to said rock levers, a slotted plate carried by the flap of the pouch, a slotted block journaled in said plate, a hasp pivoted to the block and adapted to rotate the 1 same in 'the plate for turning all of the but tons simultaneously,a staple mounting plate, and a staple carried thereby adapted to be engaged by the hasp.

In testimony whereof. I affiX my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

ALBERT T. DOYLE.

Gopiespf this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

